Kane County prosecutor named circuit judge

Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti, a career prosecutor, says he still likes his job but could not pass up an opportunity to join the bench.

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday named Barsanti, 58, a circuit court judge. He will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of 16th Judicial Circuit Judge Michael Colwell.

Barsanti, who was re-elected to a second term in 2008, will step down as state's attorney Dec. 1.

"You see it as the culmination of career because you get to decide ultimate issues -- things that affect the most people," Barsanti said.

The appointment happened quickly. Barsanti said when he heard about Colwell's impending retirement several weeks ago, he contacted Supreme Court Justice Robert Thomas and applied for the job. Thomas forwarded Barsanti's application to the full court, which voted to appoint him.

The last two years, Kane has struggled with budget issues, and Barsanti has had to trim staff and freeze wages of his 140 employees. Despite that, he said he remained enthusiastic about his job. The set of circumstances that led to the new opportunity was "kind of a perfect storm," Barsanti said.

Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay said she would appoint a panel of legal experts next week to recommend a replacement to fill the final two years of Barsanti's term.

"I'd like it to be someone from within the office, though I'll have no role in that," Barsanti said.

Barsanti joined the prosecutor's office in 1979 as an assistant state's attorney, two years after he received his law license. He remained until 2000, when he entered private practice. In 2004, he was elected state's attorney and was easily re-elected in 2008.

"He's a good line prosecutor and a great leader because he led by example," said Assistant State's Attorney Nemura Pencyla. "He always played it straight."

During his tenure, his office, in conjunction with other authorities, brought charges against more than two dozen Aurora street gang members for a raft of unsolved homicides. Barsanti said he was proud of that initiative, as well as the "no refusal" program to fight drunken driving.

Kane may not be the only suburban county losing its chief prosecutor to the bench. DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett said last week that he is considering pursuing a judgeship expected to open in October.